Policies and Guidelines

Student Accessibility Services is aligned with the mission of the Office of the Dean of Students, guided by federal and provincial human rights legislation, and defined by a number of University policies. The University of Alberta is obligated by legislation to provide disability-related accommodations to students with disabilities to the point of undue hardship.

University of Alberta Policies

Canadian students using approved accommodation services with SAS must apply for provincial and federal grants to defray the costs of those services. To the extent that provincial and federal grants do not cover the full cost of approved accommodation services for a Canadian student, and the student demonstrates that best efforts were used to acquire the maximum grant funding available, the University's normal practice is to assume responsibility for the balance of the cost of the approved accommodation service.

In 2005/2006, the Ministry of Advanced Education embarked on a forum and committee-work process to establish a new vision and policy framework for advanced learning. One of the documents used as background information by the Steering Committee was “The Future Starts with You” (PDF). The document presented findings and recommendations of an environmental scan which reviewed the status of accommodations for postsecondary students with disabilities.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law/affirmative action programs (Section 15).

Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

Subsection 1 does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.